WASHINGTON, May 3, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Three distinguished institutions—The
University of Notre Dame, the
University of Texas at San Antonio, and
the University of Padua, Italy—recently joined the ranks of the
prestigious Universities Space Research Association (USRA).
Following their election by USRA's existing university members,
these institutions were formally inducted into the Association on
March 22, 2024, bolstering the
Association's membership to 120 universities.
Joining Universities Space Research Association (USRA) means
becoming an integral part of a dynamic international network
comprising of 120 Ph.D.-granting universities deeply engaged in
space science and aerospace research and development. As members,
universities wield influence in shaping the trajectory of USRA
programs and institutes, extending benefits not only to their own
researchers but also to counterparts worldwide.
The eligibility criteria for USRA membership includes
demonstrated significant contributions in space- or
aeronautics-related research by faculty, and a substantial
commitment to a course of studies and dissertation research leading
to the doctorate in one or more related fields. Members participate
in the governance and operations of USRA through the election of
members to the USRA Board of Trustees, the establishment of the
Association's bylaws, and other activities.
Each of these universities selected by USRA has a demonstrated
capability in space research and exploration.
- The University of Notre Dame has
active research programs in Physics, Astronomy, Aerospace and
Mechanical Engineering, and Earth Sciences. Research at the
University of Notre Dame is built
around a robust framework of strong interdisciplinary and
collaborative activities both within in-house departments, and with
other renowned national and international institutes. The
faculty is well regarded in the fields of aerospace engineering,
mechanical engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering,
civil engineering and Earth sciences, computer science and
engineering and electrical engineering.
- The University of Padua, Italy, founded in 1222, is one of the
oldest universities in the world and among the most prestigious in
Italy for its contributions to
scientific and scholarly research. The centuries-old astronomical
endeavors initiated with Copernicus and Galileo continue today,
with involvement in research projects at the highest international
competitiveness in fundamental physics, applied physics and
astronomy. The University is one of the most important research
centers for physics and astronomy in Italy offering Ph.D. programs in both
disciplines. It hosts a section of the Italian Institute for
Nuclear Physics (INFN) and a unit of the Italian Interuniversity
Consortium for the Physical Sciences of Matter (CNISM), and
cooperates with the Paduan Astronomical Observatory of the Italian
Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). In collaboration with INAF, the
Department runs the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory, where a
variety of instruments are available for research and student
training.
- The University of Texas at San
Antonio offers many courses in engineering and has a joint
mechanical engineering program with Southwest Research Institute.
It has active research programs in astrophysics, including
collaborations on a first-ever image of a black hole (Event Horizon
Telescope) and an exoplanet. It conducts interdisciplinary
space-related research, with more than 20 centers and research
facilities and has collaborations with ground based and space-based
observatories. With an outstanding faculty in disciplines such as
mechanical engineering, computer engineering, Earth and planetary
sciences, space science, and astrophysics, it has recognized
expertise in many diverse fields.
Dr. Jeffrey A. Isaacson, USRA's President and
CEO, said, "We are very pleased to welcome these three
universities to our Association. Their work adds to the
collective strength of USRA, and we look forward to their active
engagement with, and contributions to, USRA's Council of
Institutions."
About USRA
Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy
of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities
Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation
chartered to advance space-related science, technology, and
engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and
conducts other major research and educational programs. It is an
association with 120 university members. USRA engages the
broader university community, employs in-house scientific talent,
and offers innovative research, development, and project management
expertise.
More information about USRA is available
at www.usra.edu.
Contact:
Suraiya Farukhi
sfarukhi@usra.edu
443-812-6945
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SOURCE Universities Space Research Association